German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche was one the most controversial figures of the 19th-century. His evocative writings on religion, morality, culture, philosophy, and science were often polemic attacks against the established views of his time. First published between 1883 and 1891, "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" is a philosophical novel which details the fictional travels and teachings of Zarathustra, known also as Zoroaster, the Persian prophet and founder of Zoroastrianism. Nietzsche's portrayal of Zarathustra is not strictly historical but rather an unconventional one which turns traditional morality on its head. Utilizing a unique and experimental style, the work presents in narrative form the beginnings of Nietzsche's moral philosophy that he would address more explicitly in "Beyond Good and Evil" and "On the Genealogy of Morals." The work also addresses many of Nietzsche's other philosophical concepts including that of the Übermensch, or a self-mastered being who has achieved his ultimate potential; the eternal recurrence, the idea that the universe has some self-repeating quality; and the will to power, or the concept that ambition is the primary driving force in humans. As thought-provoking as ever, Thus Spoke Zarathustra remains as one of the most unique philosophical works ever written.
